Centre points of the United Kingdom#England

The town of Haltwhistle in Northumberland has banners stating that it is the "Centre of Britain".{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-28841108 |title=Scottish independence: The town at the centre of Britain |author=Vanessa Barford |publisher=BBC News |date=22 August 2014 |access-date=20 November 2015}} By another calculation the centre can also be said to be Dunsop Bridge, Lancashire, 71 miles (114 km) to the south.

However, in 2002 the Ordnance Survey conducted studies that pinpointed the respective centres more precisely, and it is their results that are quoted below.{{cite web|first1=Gemma|last1=Social Media Manager|title=Where is the centre of Great Britain?|url=https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/blog/2014/08/where-is-the-centre-of-great-britain-2/|website=The Official OS Blog|publisher=OS|date =22 August 2014|access-date=20 May 2017}}

{{Location map+|United Kingdom

| caption=Map of centres

1. Whitendale Hanging Stones
2. Morecambe Bay
3. Calderstones
4. Lindley Hall Farm
5. Annaghone
6. Near Blair Atholl
7. Banc Mawr
8. Church Flatts Farm
9. Near Hammerwich

| float=right

| width=200

| places =

{{Location map~|United Kingdom|lat=54.00366|long=-2.547855|label=1|label_size=85|position=right}}

{{Location map~|United Kingdom|lat=54.093409|long=-2.89479|label=2|label_size=85|position=left}}

{{Location map~|United Kingdom|lat=53.825564|long=-2.421976|label=3|label_size=85|position=bottom}}

{{Location map~|United Kingdom|lat=52.561928|long=-1.464854|label=4|label_size=85|position=right}}

{{Location map~|United Kingdom|lat=54.607577|long= -6.693145|label=5|label_size=85|position=right}}

{{Location map~|United Kingdom|lat=56.816738|long= -4.183963|label=6|label_size=85|position=right}}

{{Location map~|United Kingdom|lat=52.33022|long= -3.766409|label=7|label_size=85|position=bottom}}

{{Location map~|United Kingdom|lat=52.72759|long= -1.6252|label=8|label_size=85|position=top}}

{{Location map~|United Kingdom|lat=52.66|long= -1.85|label=9|label_size=85|position=left}}

}}The centroid is a mathematically derived point that is in every sense the centre of a two dimensional area like a piece of land. If a straight line is drawn through a centroid in any direction there will be equal length of the line on either side of the centroid as measured from it to the boundary if the line is unbroken on either side. If a line crosses an inlet of the sea then it can be considered as a stick of uniform weight with a material of negligible weight crossing the water, the line would then balance precisely at the centroid point if suspended.{{Location map+|United Kingdom Lancashire

| caption=Map of centres of the UK and Great Britain

| float=right

| width=200

| places =

{{Location map~|United Kingdom Lancashire|lat=54.00366|long=-2.547855|label=Whitendale Hanging Stones|label_size=85|position=right}}

{{Location map~|United Kingdom Lancashire|lat=54.093409|long=-2.89479|label=Morecambe Bay|label_size=85|position=right}}

{{Location map~|United Kingdom Lancashire|lat=53.825564|long=-2.421976|label=Calderstones|label_size=85|position=top}}

}}

{{Location map+|United Kingdom Staffordshire

| caption=Map of centres of UK and England by various methods

| float=right

| width=200

| places =

{{Location map~|United Kingdom Staffordshire|lat=52.561928|long=-1.464854|label=Lindley Hall Farm|label_size=85|position=left}}

{{Location map~|United Kingdom Staffordshire|lat=52.72759|long= -1.6252|label=Church Flatts Farm|label_size=85|position=top}}

{{Location map~|United Kingdom Staffordshire|lat=52.66|long= -1.85|label=Near Hammerwich|label_size=85|position=top}}

}}

Put simply, the centroid is the point at which a cardboard cut-out of the area could be perfectly balanced on the tip of a pencil. Islands are assumed fixed to the mainland in their precise position by invisible rigid weightless wires. A mathematical method is used to do the balancing to a much greater accuracy than the practical method could achieve.

Unless stated, positions are the centroids of the two-dimensional shapes made by the countries. Calculations include offshore islands unless stated.

• A position "in the middle of Morecambe Bay", approximately {{convert|1.5|mi|km}} off the coast at Morecambe (#2), Lancashire, at Ordnance Survey {{gbmapping|SD4157566760}}.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-shropshire-29206920 BBC News] (calculation made by Ordnance Survey) 16 September 2014

• Whitendale Hanging Stones (#1 on the map), near Brennand Farm, outside Dunsop Bridge, Lancashire in the Forest of Bowland.({{coord|54|0|13.176|N|2|32|52.278|W|region:GB_type:landmark|name=Centre of Great Britain}}; {{gbmapping|SD6418856541}}) {{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2271914.stm |title=Stuck in the middle with ewe |author=Brady Haran |publisher=BBC News |date=20 October 2002 |access-date=2 January 2010}}

• A field south of Calderstones Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (#3), near Whalley, Lancashire ({{gbmapping|SD7232136671}}){{cite web|title=Q. Where is the centre of mainland Great Britain?|url=http://mapzone.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/mapzone/didyouknow/whereis/q_16_35.html|work=MapZone|publisher=Ordnance Survey|access-date=23 November 2011}}

• Lindley Hall Farm (#4), Leicestershire (near Fenny Drayton and Higham on the Hill) ({{coord|52|33|42.942|N|1|27|53.474|W|region:GB_type:landmark|name=Centre of England}}; {{gbmaprim|SP 36374 96143|SP 36373.66 96143.05}}) {{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2271925.stm|title=A tale of two centres|publisher=BBC | date=2002-10-22 | access-date=2010-01-02}} A plaque denoting this point, and disputing the "traditional" centre of England as being at Meriden in the West Midlands, was erected by Ordnance Survey on 14 June 2013 {{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-22901222|title=New centre of England marked in Fenny Drayton|publisher=BBC | date=2013-06-14 | access-date=2013-06-14}}

• Annaghone (#5), near Cookstown, County Tyrone ({{coord|54|36|27.277|N|6|41|35.323|W|region:GB_type:landmark|name=Centre of Northern Ireland}} {{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/2350221.stm|title=Meg in the middle|publisher=BBC | date=2002-10-23 | access-date=2010-01-02}} {{gbmapping| NV9706433729}} ) Irish grid ref H 84494 74047.

• Between Blair Atholl (#6) and Dalwhinnie, Perthshire ({{coord|56|49|0.257|N|4|11|2.267|W|region:GB_type:landmark|name=Centre of Scotland}}; {{gbmapping|NN6678471599}}) {{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/2271926.stm|title=Brave hearts of Scotland|publisher=BBC | date=2002-10-24 | access-date=2010-01-02}}

• Banc Mawr (#7), near Cwmystwyth, Ceredigion ({{coord|52|19|48.791|N|3|45|59.072|W|region:GB_type:landmark|name=Centre of Wales}}; {{gbmapping|SN7972871704}}){{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/2271927.stm|title=Saving the centre of Wales|publisher=BBC | date=2002-10-24 | access-date=2010-01-02}}

Point farthest from the sea

• Church Flatts Farm (#8), Coton in the Elms, Derbyshire ({{Coord|52.72759|-1.6252}})

Point farthest from high tide mark (including tidal rivers)

• Between Hammerwich and Wall, south-west of Lichfield, Staffordshire ({{coord|52.66|-1.85|region:GB_type:landmark|name=Point farthest from high tide mark}};){{citation needed|date=February 2013}}

Mid point of the longest north–south axis

• Haltwhistle, Northumberland. The midpoint of the longest north–south meridian; also approximately the midpoint of each of the lines through it across Great Britain along the 16 main compass directions.[http://www.centre-of-britain.org.uk/centre.htm The Centre of Britain] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120129005107/http://www.centre-of-britain.org.uk/centre.htm |date=January 29, 2012 }}, Centre of Britain Hotel, Haltwhistle, Northumberland. Accessed May 2012

Centre of population

• This calculation depends on the method used (mean, median or geometric median; see Centre of population for details).

::A calculation by Danny Dorling using the mean (least squares) method based on local authority district data from the 1990s gave the population centre of Great Britain at Appleby Parva, Leicestershire, 20 miles south of Derby. Since then, the population centre will have moved slightly south and east.{{cite web |url=http://reporter.leeds.ac.uk/477/news.htm |title=News Item: |access-date=25 November 2007 |work=University of Leeds |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061003073229/http://reporter.leeds.ac.uk/477/news.htm |archive-date=3 October 2006 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.applebymagna.org.uk/population_centre.htm |title=Population Centre |access-date=25 November 2007 |work=Appleby Magna & Appleby Parva | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071123015253/http://www.applebymagna.org.uk/population_centre.htm| archive-date = 23 November 2007}}{{cite book |last1=Dorling |first1=D |last2=Atkins |first2=D J |date=1995 |title=Population density, change and concentration in Great Britain 1971, 1981 and 1991 (Studies on Medical and Population Subjects No. 58) |url=http://www.dannydorling.org/?page_id=1449 |publisher=HMSO}}

Centre of England

File:Meriden cross plaque 1951.jpg

File:The Centre of England - geograph.org.uk - 372568.jpg]]

For centuries the parish of Meriden to the west of Coventry has claimed to be the geographical centre of England, and there has been a stone cross there commemorating the claim for at least 500 years. The justification is that the point farthest from the sea is in the parish.{{citation needed|date=November 2014}} Morton, Derbyshire also claims to be the centre of England as it is not only midway along England's longest north-south axis,{{citation needed|date=November 2014}} but also midway between the east coast and the Welsh border.{{citation needed|date=November 2014}} Claims are also made for a tree, the Midland Oak, in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, although the basis for these claims is not clear.

{{div col}}

• Centre of Scotland
• Extreme points of the United Kingdom
• Geography of the United Kingdom
• Geographical centre of Ireland
• Drainage divide

{{div col end}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book |title=Sacred Center: the Ancient Art of Locating Sanctuaries |author=John Michell |publisher=Inner Traditions |year=2009 |isbn=1594772843}}

Category:Geography of the United Kingdom

United Kingdom

Category:United Kingdom geography-related lists